With English royals on everyone’s mind, there are bound to be questions about Elizabeth’s younger sister, the late Princess Margaret. So, in case you need a refresher before the big celebration, here are all of your big questions about Margaret, answered.
Who is Queen Elizabeth’s sister?
Queen Elizabeth is the head of the royal family, but she grew up with one sibling–a younger sister named Margaret. Her full title is Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and she became second in line for the throne behind her sister in 1936 when she was only six years old, after her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry American divorcée, Wallis Simpson.
Did Queen Elizabeth and her sister get along?
Like with all siblings, it seems like Elizabeth and Margaret fought about various things, but they genuinely loved one another. Royal biographer Andrew Morton spoke with Vogue about the sisters’ relationship, revealing that Margaret displayed a jealous nature towards her sister’s position and popularity. Before Margaret’s uncle abdicated the throne, leading her father, King George VI, to take over, most never considered the possibility that Elizabeth would one day become a queen. Because of this, the two sisters were treated like twins, but once their father took the throne, Elizabeth and Margaret’s paths diverted. The two were also reportedly quite different in terms of personality, with Morton stating, “Elizabeth was dutiful, stoical, an introvert; Margaret was extrovert, quixotic, emotional. They were the yin and the yang, and, in a way, every royal has a shadow self; Margaret was the shadow of Elizabeth.” Although there was likely tension, the two appeared close, and Elizabeth visibly grieved Margaret’s death in 2002. As a public figure, the Queen is used to controlling her emotions during intense moments in history and her personal life, but reportedly, “[Elizabeth] said privately if she had to speak as well about her sister Margaret, she would have broken down and wept—which, you can count the number of times the Queen has cried in public on the fingers of half of one hand. It was quite a remarkable admission.”
What’s the age difference between Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret?
The two sisters had a four-year age gap, with Elizabeth born in 1926 and Margaret born in 1930.
How old was Margaret when Elizabeth became Queen?
Elizabeth became the Queen of England in 1952, though her official coronation was not held until June of the next year. According to The Washington Post, Elizabeth was 25 years old in February 1952 when she came to power, meaning Margaret was 21 at the time. Lisa Sheridan/Getty Images
What did Princess Margaret do?
Margaret was a very active royal, taking part in many public projects and events. According to the official website for the English royal family, “many of the 80-plus organisations of which she was Patron or President are concerned with activities for young people, children’s well-being and caring for sick people.” Margaret really cared about public welfare, she represented the Queen on many important trips, and she had a particular interest in the arts, like ballet and music. A few of Margaret’s many positions included president of the National Society and of the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, grand president of the St John Ambulance Brigade and colonel-in-chief of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps. She was also the first president of the Royal Ballet, as well as president of the Sadler’s Wells Foundation.
How did Princess Margaret die?
Margaret reportedly dealt with various health issues throughout her life, including depression, migraines, bronchitis, and more. In an article published shortly after Margaret’s death, The Guardian claimed that decades of smoking and drinking likely attributed to her bad health, and in particular, the three strokes she suffered before her death in 2002. That year, at the age of 71, Margaret passed away due to cardiac problems as a result of her third stroke. The official statement from the Palace stated, “The Queen, with great sadness, has asked for the following announcement to be made immediately. Her beloved sister, Princess Margaret, died peacefully in her sleep this morning at 6:30 am, in The King Edward VII Hospital. Her children, Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto, were at her side.”
Did Queen Elizabeth’s sister Princess Margaret ever get married?
Unlike Elizabeth, who fell in love with Prince Philip at a young age before getting married, Margaret’s love life was a bit more complicated. Before her sister became Queen, Margaret sparked a romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend, who divorced his wife before proposing to the Queen’s younger sister. Unfortunately, their romance didn’t work out, but Margaret did go on to marry another man: photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. According to BBC, the two met at a dinner party in 1958 and they were engaged by the end of 1959. Margaret and Armstrong-Jones married in 1960 at Westminster Abbey, after which, the groom was named the Earl of Snowdon. Margaret and Armstrong-Jones had two kids together, Lady Sarah Chatto and David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, also known as David Linley. The princess and her husband were married from 1960 to 1978, when Margaret became the first royal to get divorced since King Henry VIII in the 1500s. Keystone/Getty Images
Why did Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend never marry?
Before Armstrong-Jones, Margaret intended to marry Townsend. According to The Guardian, Margaret approached Elizabeth about the marriage in 1953, shortly after the Queen’s coronation. At the time, it was required that the Queen give permission for the marriage. The big issue was that Townsend was a divorced man, having split from his wife not long before the proposal, and the Church of England was very against that. Because of the position of the Church, and in turn, the English Parliament, Margaret was forced to decide whether to give up her royal station to marry Townsend or give up on the marriage. In 1955, Margaret announced to the public, “I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend … mindful of the Church’s teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have decided to put these considerations before any others. I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend. I am deeply grateful for the concern of all those who have constantly prayed for my happiness.”
Did Princess Margaret and Prince Philip get along?
Although it’s hard to tell for certain, it seems like Margaret and the late Prince Philip got along quite well. In fact, Philip walked Margaret down the aisle and gave her away at her wedding. In her biography about Philip called Prince Philip Revealed, author Ingrid Seward wrote that Philip was also welcoming and supportive of Margaret’s new husband, saying, “There was much tutting among the royal court about his suitability for the princess, but Philip was not part of the spiteful backchat and preferred to keep an open mind” (via Express). Next, King of the Castle! Who was Queen Elizabeth’s Father? Everything You Need to Know About King George VI
